BUTTON IT DOWN

Button down shirts can offer a cool, feminine or masculine vibe. There are so many ways to wear this versatile piece.

I love the effortless simplicity that a button down shirt has to offer. This is a garment that can serve as a layering piece or a core item that one should have in their closet in multiple different colors, styles, and pattern options that can really showcase a cool, feminine outlook. Nevertheless, masculinity is highly represented in a women’s button down and can be tastefully represented in plaids and pinstripes with flirtatious mini skirts or structured high-waisted trousers. This basic shirt body can be mixed and matched with eclectic accessories and a variety of bottoms for a versatile and sophisticated look.

The best ways to wear your crisp button down? I list below three key options that give you a variety of ways that you can outfit this simple yet multi-functional piece whether you label yourself as a tomboy, girly girl, mod chick, or etc:

1). with denim
some people would consider these two pieces collaborating together as unstructured or kind of kooky. A button down just shouldn’t go with a pair of jeans, right? WRONG. there are huge initiatives that can be channeled here like denim on denim (chambray button down and a pair of jeans) or that whimsical printed button down half tucked into a wash-of-your-choice jean. whether it’s distressed, boyfriend, wide leg or skinny, the options are limitless here. even if you go baggy and channel your risky business tom cruise alter-ego shirt with a pair of denim, IT WORKS.

2) with skirts

this is by far my favorite way to wear a button down because in any silhouette with any print or solid can open pandora’s box if you coordinate it elaborately. some people may consider the balance ratio of a top vs bottom – meaning that if your shirt is baggy, that you should have a cleaner, more structured bottom. well, that’s old news. shirts tucked into a full skirt or an untucked top with a wide ponte skirt shape can work regardless of how fitted or ill fitted you shirt is. this combination gives a “business at the top, frisky at the bottom” type of outlook, making it exciting and new.

3) under a sweatshirt

in my opinion, a button down shirt under a sweatshirt is the most underrated and unique way to go when styling your shirt. this outlook is cool because it is a more hip and dressier way to style a basic body that one normally doesn’t put together with a stylish trouser or mini skirt. these types of looks can be dressed up or down depending on your accessories and the bottoms that you choose. solids look great with any printed bottom or a unique bottom silhouette like a structured pencil skirt, but can also be diverse in an animal print or with a jeweled collar tucked under a trendy sweatshirt. you can utilize your button downs in a variety of ways without making it seem like you’re mimicking the same look over and over.

4). if you want to go crazy…
add any or all of the elements of reasons #1 – #3 to collaborate the ultimate outfit.

under a sweatshirt with distressed, patchwork denim

under a sweatshirt with a full midi skirt with bow detail

The fantastic thing about something as simple as this style? you really don’t have to go to those lavish websites like shopbop or moda operandi to get a designer’s best button down of the season. you can easily access one of these at your local low-price retailer. one of my favorite places to buy a chambray button down is at good Old Navy, where you spend about $30 or less on this style. For a style that you’re going to be consistently wearing to outfit your look in several ways, you definitely don’t have to break the bank.

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